The Silent Killer in Our Homes
News
The Silent Killer in Our Homes (posted January 29, 2025)

By Adam Behnke, BCPH Communications Specialist

Something dangerous is in your house right now and you don’t even know it. You cannot see, smell, taste, or hear this danger, and its unhealthy effects are not immediately felt. This danger is so prevalent that it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, after smoking.

We’re talking about radon, a radioactive gas found naturally in the ground. It enters buildings through their foundations, and in high concentrations and prolonged exposure, is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths across the country every year. In Wisconsin, nearly one thousand people will die annually from radon exposure. Fortunately, this cause of lung cancer is largely preventable by testing your home and installing a mitigation system, if needed. In today’s article, we’ll learn about radon and its dangers, explain how to get a test and understand its results, and what do if your home has high levels of this dangerous gas.

What is Radon and Why is it Dangerous?
Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water. All outdoor and indoor air has some radon in it. Some building materials also can release low levels of radon.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says 1 in 10 Wisconsin homes have elevated levels of radon. The gas can build up in the air in any home or building whether it has a basement, is sealed or drafty, or is new or old. There is no known safe level of radon, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends fixing your home if radon levels are 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or higher.

Radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. It takes many years for lung cancer to develop, and most people don't have symptoms until the cancer is advanced and more difficult to treat. While radon can affect anyone, children are generally considered to be more sensitive compared to adults due to their smaller lung sizes and faster breathing rates. This is why Brown County Public Health and other health agencies encourage you to reduce radon exposure throughout the lives of you and your family to help prevent lung cancer. This is accomplished in four steps:
  1. Obtaining a radon test kit
  2. Testing your home or office
  3. Sending a kit to an approved laboratory to determine radon levels
  4. Fixing your home if radon levels are high
 
Testing for Radon
Testing your home is the only way to know if radon levels are high and your family is at risk of developing lung cancer.

You should test your home's radon levels:
  • If it's never been tested or radon levels are unknown
  • When preparing to buy or sell
  • Before and after any renovations, especially after making any repairs to reduce radon levels
  • Before making any lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (like converting a basement to a bedroom or home office)
Brown County Public Health offers free test kits to residents at both of our locations:
Duck Creek Center
2198 Glendale Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303

Sophie Beaumont Building
111 North Jefferson St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
Business hours are Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Alternatively, you can contact the designated Radon Information Center for Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc Counties:

Jessica Wanserski
JessicaWanserski@manitowoccountywi.gov
Eastern Wisconsin Radon Information Center
Manitowoc County Health Department
920-683-4454
Manitowoc, WI 54220-4577

Local hardware stores should also have radon test kits available to purchase.

Once you’ve acquired a kit, follow all the instructions carefully:
  • Leave the measuring device in your basement (or lowest level of your home) raised three feet off the ground in the middle of the room.
  • Leave the test in place for the instructed amount of time.
    • Your kit will provide specifics.
    • Short-term kits can take between 2-90 days.
  • Once the test is completed, follow the directions on the test kit packaging. The test kit will tell you where to send the device to get the results. 
Understanding the test results
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. Radon is naturally found in outdoor air at very low levels and some radon will always be in your indoor air. According to Environmental Protection Agency, the average radon level in American homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. The EPA recommends contacting a licensed professional to install a radon mitigation system if the level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air. Other reduction actions are urged if your radon level falls between 2 pCi/L through 4 pCi/L.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has information about how to find a radon reduction contractor. They will use one of several proven methods to reduce radon in your home, depending on your unique circumstances. The one most used has a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. Known as a soil depressurization system, this system does not require major changes to your home.

Stay tuned for more information from Brown County Public Health about limited-time, financial assistance for some homeowners who require a radon reduction system at home.

Other steps you can take to reduce radon levels in your home:
  • Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
  • Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster or caulk.
Experts suggest testing radon levels again after you've made any of these changes.

Reduce your risk now
This final week of January marks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s observation of Radon Awareness Week, which aims to shed light on the dangers of radon and how people protect themselves from its impact. There is no better time than NOW to act against this silent killer to reduce its toll on our collective health. For more information, visit the radon section of stayhealthyBC.com or get in touch with a radon expert by calling 888-LOW-RADON (888-569-7236).

Stay Healthy, Brown County!
For more information about a growing list of health-related topics, visit the Healthy Herald, Brown County Public Health’s blog at stayhealthybc.com.

Resources
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/010625.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/radon/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/radon/php/radon-awareness-week/index.html
https://www.epa.gov/radon
https://manitowoccountywi.gov/departments/health-department/radon/
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/proficiency.htm
https://wi-dhs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=68f3a3e068854810b626d002ce47aff4